In the spring of 2023, there was chatter on multiple threads here at Daz about creating G9 characters with the major character-creator options (FaceGen, Face Transfer, HeadShop), and I found myself having exchanges with a committed FaceGen user. He had a couple of fair points on his side: Face Transfer Unlimited had not been updated since it came out in 2019, and there was no obvious sign at the time that it would be updated to do G9. Meanwhile, FaceGen was still in active development, and its developers had specifically indicated that a G9 version was in the works. Moreover, FaceGen created cleaner textures and also had the option to pick custom mat files. 

It was something that caused me to rethink my process in a fundamental way. 

Having given a fair test to all three options - FaceGen, Face Transfer and HeadShop - I continued to prefer the shape created by Face Transfer/Face Transfer Shapes, but I agreed that FaceGen produced the best textures.

And therein were the first seeds sown that changed up everything by the end of the year. 

For a long time thereafter, my character creation process hardly changed at all. Toward the end of 2022, I retired Altern8 in favor of a custom process for doing skin textures that a friend who was pursuing his own Daz projects had created. But other than that, the year went by without much modification to my character creation. 

And then everything changed.

Two gig seasons came and went, and spring 2023 found me at a crossroads. Genesis 9 had come out the previous fall, and I had by then invested in some G9 shape/morph utilities and even a few commercial characters. (Not for the characters, but because there were times when there was such an attractive, stacking deal on the bundle that it was worth it to me, even if I never used the characters themselves for anything.) I was getting close to two years spent on Daz, and I hadn't actually created any new final characters in over a year. I think I had been looking for that "next great thing" and the arrival of G9 threw an additional complication into the mix. Of course, 2023 dawned with no easy path to creating G9 characters but I knew it was only a matter of time before that changed, and I was going to have to decide whether to stay the course with G8 or switch to G9 (or, possibly, use both).

Of the major players, it was HeadShop that was first out of the gate to offer the ability to create G9 characters. I had not done anything with HeadShop yet - I had not strayed from Face Transfer since switching in late 2021. Given a lucky opportunity to test drive it, I found it was an useful experience and created a few interesting characters. But for all of my careful, evolving procedures with creating characters in G8, I had almost no tools in the toolbox to reach for in creating a G9 character. It was, in so many respects, like starting over again.

This one is retrospectively my favorite of the HeadShop creations. It's a cute variant of one of my major characters, but it wasn't "the thing" I was looking for, and I moved on to a new challenge - converting my G8 Face Transfer shapes to G9.

if this is a custom character does it have a way to capture a front and side view?

will Face Transfer (or Facegen, Headshop) help?

Disclaimer, I have never played the game but have friends that do who use DAZ and have tried recreating their characters so know it's possible 

It is also extremely difficult to make suggestions without knowing what the character looks like 

pretty sure someone has made very similar clothing too and hair as nearly everything seems to copy something I am unaware of until it's pointed out!

looking at this I don't see anything impossible to roughly replicate 

buchholzm725 said:

Hi, I am new to this, so please bear with me LOL. I have attempted to install HeadShop Pro several times, and have actually owned it for a few months. I am getting an error message that states there is no "dll" file and another file was missing. Can someone help me with this. I hate the thought of putting the money into something I am not able to use. BTW, I did turn off my firewall, it did not make a difference. Thanks

Please contact Abalone Tech Support at [email protected]. In the meantime, watch this install video: https://youtu.be/QACNeyStmT0

Laslo

When you updated D/S it may be that they also required to be updated. Or reinstalled if you moved them?

Sometime back now when I tried installing Headshop it also could not find the FaceShop plugin. Combing through the computer, it does not exist. I uninstalled Headshop.

But those other plugins should be registering. When you click on one, what does the message say?

LeatherGryphon said:

AgitatedRiot said:

LeatherGryphon said:

beregar said:

AgitatedRiot said:

Why do all the best bakeries around have MJ dispensaries next door? All the good stuff is gone by the time I get up (good thing I know the Baker). Also, why am I seeing the movers who move my stuff walking out of the dispensary this week? I did like seeing them carrying my framed poster out of there.

What is a MJ dispensary? Is it like one of those vending machines from which you get M&Ms and other candy... though I'm not sure why anyone would prefer one over baked goods or why they would draw people to a bakery in the first place?

Edit: though I don't think people fit in one... let alone multiple people. Hmm...

MJ = Mary Jane = Marijuana = Pot = Ganja = Smoke = Wacky Weed, ...  Recreational Marijuana is now legal in many USA States.  An MJ Dispensary is a store licensed to sell Marijuana.  Similar to a "Liquor Store" that in some states are the only places licensed to sell bulk alcohol (i.e. by the bottle) .

True, what is not legal is driving under the influence of MJ in my state. I have no problem.

 And that's why MJ Dispensaries are not usually located next to police stations, but tend to seek out or attract bakeries.  Mmmm..., munchies.  When MJ first became legal in NY State a year or so ago, the first ones to open were on the Indian Reservations where tax laws & regulations are different (e.g. they sell gasoline without the state tax also)  So the locals near here get cheap gas at a gas station on the Reservation.   The dispensary as well as the station are owned by the same person or company, but in a separate building next to the gas station.  But several of the gas stations on the Reservation advertise a free "doobie" with a gas fill-up.  Not a good idea for the weak minded.  More recently MJ dispensaries have been popping up in the middle of the city and along "franchise row".  The MJ Dispensaries also sell pipes & rolling papers and other paraphernalia, and wall decorations, and wierd lamps & lights.  An MJ dispensary is what in the '60s & '70s we called a "Headshop", but you had to provide your own MJ (At Your Own Risk).  A month or two ago, a dispensary opened across from the BurgerKing near where I do laundry.  They're everywhere, they're everywhere. I'm sure, however, that after a while, a lot of those dispensary pop-ups will fail, and we'll get down to a sustainable number.  LIke Liquor Stores.

But a proper Dispensary is licensed to sell Medical Marijuana and adhere to the more strict regulations and higher price and precise strains of marijuana. 

...here in "Potland" OR you can't swing a dead (or live) lesser capybara around without hitting one. 

Got the Headshop plugin...with some work and investigation..I got it to find the loader..

Now it cannot find the "FaceShop Plugin"....

Is this the seperate product I see listed in the Shop..or is it hidden in the files somewhere?

AgitatedRiot said:

LeatherGryphon said:

beregar said:

AgitatedRiot said:

Why do all the best bakeries around have MJ dispensaries next door? All the good stuff is gone by the time I get up (good thing I know the Baker). Also, why am I seeing the movers who move my stuff walking out of the dispensary this week? I did like seeing them carrying my framed poster out of there.

What is a MJ dispensary? Is it like one of those vending machines from which you get M&Ms and other candy... though I'm not sure why anyone would prefer one over baked goods or why they would draw people to a bakery in the first place?

Edit: though I don't think people fit in one... let alone multiple people. Hmm...

MJ = Mary Jane = Marijuana = Pot = Ganja = Smoke = Wacky Weed, ...  Recreational Marijuana is now legal in many USA States.  An MJ Dispensary is a store licensed to sell Marijuana.  Similar to a "Liquor Store" that in some states are the only places licensed to sell bulk alcohol (i.e. by the bottle) .

True, what is not legal is driving under the influence of MJ in my state. I have no problem.

 And that's why MJ Dispensaries are not usually located next to police stations, but tend to seek out or attract bakeries.  Mmmm..., munchies.  When MJ first became legal in NY State a year or so ago, the first ones to open were on the Indian Reservations where tax laws & regulations are different (e.g. they sell gasoline without the state tax also)  So the locals near here get cheap gas at a gas station on the Reservation.   The dispensary as well as the station are owned by the same person or company, but in a separate building next to the gas station.  But several of the gas stations on the Reservation advertise a free "doobie" with a gas fill-up.  Not a good idea for the weak minded.  More recently MJ dispensaries have been popping up in the middle of the city and along "franchise row".  The MJ Dispensaries also sell pipes & rolling papers and other paraphernalia, and wall decorations, and wierd lamps & lights.  An MJ dispensary is what in the '60s & '70s we called a "Headshop", but you had to provide your own MJ (At Your Own Risk).  A month or two ago, a dispensary opened across from the BurgerKing near where I do laundry.  They're everywhere, they're everywhere. I'm sure, however, that after a while, a lot of those dispensary pop-ups will fail, and we'll get down to a sustainable number.  LIke Liquor Stores.

But a proper Dispensary is licensed to sell Medical Marijuana and adhere to the more strict regulations and higher price and precise strains of marijuana. 

Artini said:

Great to know.

Just wonder how big are differences betwen

https://www.daz3d.com/headshop-2024-win

 and Headshop Pro 2023?

https://www.daz3d.com/headshoppro-2023-win

WHAT IS NEW IN 2024?

• Addition of 104 new Genesis 8 morphs for AutoSculpt
• Addition of wrinkle Bump maps for Genesis 8 and Genesis 9
• New, low price

info_b3470fa520 said:

Artini said:

Does anyone has succeded with running Headshop 14?

Artini, only hundreds of users. (If you read the thread above, you can see how others did. "Setting the temp path to default fixed it for me in HS13."

Or why not just get Tech Support from us (it works 100%)? Abalone Tech support is at [email protected]

Or invite me on skype (lasloves). I am on California time and love to connect with you....

However, using the API calls I mentioned above would avoid the need for users to place files where they don't apparently want them. The C: drive is vulnerable if a system reinstall is required.

HeadShop Pro 2023 works quite nicely with Genesis 9. I like this mirroring texture option.

Just need to figure out how to avoid miscoloration on the skin.

Great to know.

Just wonder how big are differences betwen

https://www.daz3d.com/headshop-2024-win

 and Headshop Pro 2023?

https://www.daz3d.com/headshoppro-2023-win

Artini said:

Does anyone has succeded with running Headshop 14?

Artini, only hundreds of users. (If you read the thread above, you can see how others did. "Setting the temp path to default fixed it for me in HS13."

Or why not just get Tech Support from us (it works 100%)? Abalone Tech support is at [email protected]

Or invite me on skype (lasloves). I am on California time and love to connect with you....

Does anyone has succeded with running Headshop 14?

FelixFFDS said:

Both are good programs.  In a head-to-head comparison, though, I give the nod to HeadShop2024.
FaceTransfer has a serious problem with the side profile. My opinion is that the resulting morph looks like an alien for G8 heads.  G9 - from my tinkering with the trial version, is a bit better.  In either case, you'd also need Face Transfer Shapes (3rd Party program) to flesh out the Face Transfer G8 profile.
In that sense, HeadShop2024 provides a overall better shape on the G8 model. Also, Headshop2024 allows you to create the morph without creating a corresponding texture.
Attached is a quick comparison of the two.  I used a mugshot off the Internet and created the head morphs in both Face Transfer and Headshop2024.  Since textures aren't the issue here, I used the default G8F base materials (Iray).  There is no "post morph creation" tweaks done.

Hope this helps.

 

Felix

I am not sure which one is better. It seems like Headshop2024 has some obvious advantages but I am still on the fence over which one I should go with. I am still using G8 figures extensively but in terms of which software creates better morphs, that I am not so sure. They both are expensive softwares, so which one do you think is better? (I am more interested in creating realistic character morphs that works great out of box and needs little tweaking. Textures are not that important for me). Anyone used either of these, care to share your thoughts? 

the whole thing is not user friendly. Apparently the plugin cannot cope if - for whatever reason - a DAZ installation does not use the original paths. The fact that the developers have not found a way for the plugin to find the correct installation path for years is at least questionable and does not suggest that they have the users in mind. And I have never experienced with any other program that a program cannot cope if the path to a temporary directory is not exactly as the programmers expect. I've tried several versions over the years, but nothing has changed despite many chat entries from countless users. So if you haven't installed Daz3d with the specified paths, you should stay away from Headshop. I have given up hope that the programmers of this plugin will change anything at this point.

Explore 3 new tools that will assist you to improve work with non-HeadShop photo-to-3D applications. During the 17 years of development of HeadShop we added some unique capabilities to HeadShop that we feel can benefit other applications as well. Try any of these tools to see if they work for you.

PoliceArtist for Genesis 9 is a library of 120 shapes (noses, chins, creases, etc) that can be loaded via DAZ Studio’s MorphLoader to add topographic details to any figure. It can also used in conjunction either with FaceTransfer2 or any other Genesis 9 figure for realistic shaping of features. PoliceArtist works like a police artist, choosing from a library of different shapes to get to the right end results.
PoliceArtist also comes with an on-screen guide that helps to select the right features.

Watch How-to video here: https://youtu.be/GNkhoWQ1PHI